Apoptosis markers related to pathogenesis of pediatric chronic hepatitis C virus infection: M30 mirrors the severity of steatosis.

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J Med Virol. 2010 May;82(6):949-57.

Apoptosis markers related to pathogenesis of pediatric chronic hepatitis C virus

infection: M30 mirrors the severity of steatosis.

Valva P, De Matteo E, Galoppo MC, Gismondi MI, Preciado MV.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Pathology Division, Gutiérrez

Children's Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. valvapamela@...

Abstract

Apoptosis involvement in liver damage related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic

infection has been suggested. Although liver biopsy represents the gold standard

for evaluating disease severity, non-invasive tests are a growing medical need.

The aim of this study was to detect apoptosis markers in liver and serum from

pediatric HCV-infected patients and to assess its utility to predict liver

damage progression. Twenty-three patients were included. Liver biopsies were

used for histological analysis as well as for immunodetection of a viral protein

(NS3) and apoptosis markers (activated caspase-3 [casp-3a], caspase-generated

CK-18 fragment [M30] and TUNEL). M30 was quantified in paired serum and biopsy

samples. NS3 correlated both with casp-3a (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001) and TUNEL (r =

0.61, P < 0.0017). Casp-3a and TUNEL also displayed a correlation (r = 0.56, P =

0.005). Both NS3 and casp-3a were associated with fibrosis stage (P = 0.03).

Serum M30 [median: 122.15 UL-1 (86.68-794.58)] was higher in patients than in

controls [median: 81.44 UL-1 (41.17-129.30)], (P < 0.0001). M30 showed a

correlation with steatosis, and indeed it was linked to severe grade (P =

0.004). In children, HCV would be involved in liver damage through apoptosis

induction. The apoptosis markers detected reflect liver injury. Serum M30 might

be useful as a marker to detect the extent of liver steatosis. © 2010

Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 20419808 [PubMed - in process]